Newington Zoning Board To Discuss High-Density Housing Ban

NEWINGTON — The zoning commission will hold a public hearing Wednesday on a proposal to ban high-density housing around the town's CTfastrak stations for one year.

The commission's meeting will be at 7 p.m. in town hall.

The moratorium is intended to give commission members time to write new regulations governing development around the busway and other transit stations. The ban would affect a half-mile radius around stops at Newington Junction and Cedar Street.

Commission members fear there might be a rush to build near the stations now that Ctfastrak has opened. They say they want to maintain control over redevelopment.

Some residents have expressed a concern about construction of high-density, low-income housing around the stops.

Economic Development Director Andy Brecher initially opposed the moratorium. Brecher has said that new high-density, upper-income housing is the best bet to grow the town's tax base. The busway stops are the perfect places for such housing, and a ban could stifle their development, he has said.

"We know that we have young people who are looking for housing options that Newington does not offer," Brecher said. "We know that recent retirees are looking for housing that Newington does not offer. We know there are developers out there who are willing to build that type of housing, if we allow it."

But Brecher said he is no longer as concerned about the proposed ban, if it leads to new transit-oriented zoning regulations on development.

"If you are committed to writing the regulations within a year, I can live with it," he said.

Brecher said that the town would provide cash for a consultant to help the commission write the rules. He said he didn't know how much would be necessary.

Town Planner Craig Minor also said he supports writing transit-oriented development rules.

"I'm definitely in favor of coming up with these regulations," Minor said.

The commission will seek answers to any questions raised by the public and its members during the hearing, Minor said. He doubted members would vote on a moratorium on Wednesday.

A decision is more likely at the commission's next meeting, in June, he said.